Full Gallery and Review by Rhys Bennett
A feast for the senses that further cements homegrown metalcore giants Parkway Drive as one of the most accomplished live acts in the world right now as they embark on their 20th anniversary tour.
The atmosphere was at an all time high at Olympic Park this past weekend with a perfect storm of packed out events at The Dome, Accor Stadium and Qudos Bank Arena.
Weaving through the melting pot of costume clad Comicon punters, and surrounded by the hounding cheers from the Wallabies V All Blacks game, lines were halted to enter Qudos Bank Arena, ahead of what was set to be one of THE shows of the year.
Notices around the venue began to reveal that both opening acts Void of Vision and The Ghost Inside, would not be performing due to logistical errors; causing massive delays allowing punters into the venue. Thankfully with a 4 act billing, I, Prevail stepped up to the plate to execute an explosive set for the ravenous crowd.
Despite a fairly admirable performance, I wasn’t hooked the way the crowd was. For an arena show, I found the lighting to be quite underwhelming. This may be strategic from a production perspective as it would only amplify what was around the corner, however this; along with a band who’s songs have never quite grabbed me, I was left wanting something more for a show of this scale. Nevertheless it was apparent that the room was well and truly lubed up for the main event.
The energy in a sold out arena is something I’ll never quite get used to. 21,000 people eagerly awaiting the same rush from a band they collectively love is a surreal feeling. It’s not often a metal core band you used to see performing at a local PCYC event would headline one of Sydney’s biggest venues. Having seen them headline Good Things Festival in 2019,
it was abundantly clear Parkway Drive are an arena ready festival headlining juggernaut.
It wouldn’t be a Parkway show without a Madison Square Garden-styled Boxing entrance through the crowd, hi-fiving and hugging every excitable fan that threw themselves in their path as the band made their way to the stage. With signature flags waving and a security entourage matched only by Tyson or Mayweather, there was a feeling of spectacle that I often chase from shows of this scale and rarely ever experience.
Draped all in white, vocalist Winston McCall led the band into 2007’s Carrion; a solid dose of nostalgia played like never before. These songs always sounded massive in even the smallest of rooms, so it’s no surprise that on an arena stage, they sound gargantuan.
The band led immediately into crowd favourites Prey and Glitch, giving the crowd a taste of what this show had up it’s sleeve; a pyro display of biblical proportions.
Until this show, I personally felt pyro had begun to feel predictable and gimmicky for a show of this nature. It’s often a sure fire way (pun intended) to make a show feel bigger than it is.
This was not the case for Parkway Drive as they constantly left me baffled at how this show was even made possible. From rain machines in the centre of the catwalk to aerial staging rigs and flames that bellowed in every angle imaginable, this was a peak display of how special effects can enhance an already electrifying show.
The late 2000’s memories kept on coming as the band introduced to the stage Michael Crafter of Carpathian and I Killed The Prom Queen to perform Boneyards, a performance that felt every bit retrospective as the archival montage that displayed on the big screens to open the show.
One thing is for certain, Parkway Drive are an absolute force and Winston McCall is as enthralling as ever on a stage of this scale.
5 stars, ten out of ten, tell your friends.
